I finished this painting late last year. Then, I made some corrections to it. Then, I entered it into a show competition. Then, I decided I really didn’t like the image! Who needs a jury when I have myself!
I am pleased with this Prelude to a Walk. I will be showing this painting at a wine tasting in St Joseph, Missouri this coming Thursday,

My new venture is called “head shots”…featured on our website, http://www.bellacompany.com. I have received some great dog pictures to work with. As it turns out, this particular project I dreamed up is deceptively difficult…but, when the painting is finally finished, folks who purchase these canvas paintings are happy with the results. I sometimes think I want to get back to painting the landscape (as in my “looking down” paintings) and, I have some great camera shots taken while I’m walking Lola, (our new now a year old) dog.
This is the time of year I spend dreaming up the new year. What new designs or popular past designs will be on a new t-shirt? What kind of painting would I like to explore? Should I open some new paint colors and wander down some unexplored subject? I began painting by painting landscapes and seascapes…should I go there again? It’s nice and disturbing too when ideas are up in the air!

I have wanted to share some artists who inspired me and set me on this art path…so, here goes!
My grandmother was very creative and the person who raised me when I was very young. She gardened, made her own hats, made movies of her travels to Mexico and Hawaii, and painted dishware. She also worked full time!
When I went to live with my mother I was in the 4th grade. There was a lot of adjusting to do. I was moved from a rural home to an apartment in downtown Seattle. I attended public school for the first time. My mom figured out that butcher paper on the wall was necessary or I was going to draw on the wall paper! So I had a place to create from the start. I also had a great 5th grade art teacher. One day she showed a movie about how to create a watercolor…I was mesmerized!
When I married, I seemed to have lost my art self. We lived in Corvallis Oregon and my husband was going to Graduate School. I worked in a small bank. There was this small book store close to work and I’d go there sometimes on my lunch time. One day I came across this book about Nicolas De Stael. I was mesmerized again! Even though we had little money, I had to go back and buy this small book. Nicolas woke up my buried desire to paint. I’ve never been the same!

Sometimes, it’s difficult to pick up the pencil or brush or paper after a long painting project. The Give Me That Dog paintings and stories are at the printer…The paintings are in my studio ready to be auctioned….I designed a Christmas card for MAAL (Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation)…and now I must get back to my own idea(s) …what to paint and why? I’m pretty sure artists (writers, painters, musicians) can get lost in the requests and the commitments as well. Winter is a better time to create new ideas…not so many distractions..so hopefully I’ll get back there!

The end of summer and painting dog stories….There are many parts and pieces to the rescued dog stories, but we are working away to publish a 2nd book. Meanwhile, I found this half finished piece in my art files and decided to finish it. Ideas are great and fun and inspirational too…but actually resolving the painting is always a challenge! I’m working on large 31X41″ print paper which is very tough and takes a lot of abuse…good thing!

I received this great story from a couple who only adopt older dogs they find in shelters. Our 2nd “give Me that Dog” book will be published this fall. Many of the stories sent to me were a little more difficult to paint for one reason or another. As in any great dog story, many of these 2nd edition stories have brought sadness and joy into my studio. People who work to make a dogs life better, are an inspiration and have some amazing stories to tell. It is an honor to share their stories.